Guinness Premiership
Vickery backs expansion plans
Scrum.com
April 27, 2010
Wasps prop Phil Vickery takes a breather, London Wasps v Northampton Saints, Guinness Premiership, Adams Park, Wycombe, England, October 4, 2009
Phil Vickery would like to see some new faces in the Premiership © Getty Images
Enlarge
Related Links
Players/Officials: Phil Vickery
Tournaments/Tours: Guinness Premiership
Teams: England | Wasps

Wasps prop Phil Vickery has backed plans to expand the Guinness Premiership to 14 teams, but does not want to see the end of relegation from the top flight.

Premier Rugby, the umbrella organisation governing the Premiership, are keen to expand the number of teams in the top flight in the hope of agreeing an improved television deal when the contract is next up for negotiation in 2013. Vickery, a native of Cornwall, would like to see Exeter establish themselves in the Premiership and also for Worcester to return to the top flight quickly after their relegation.

"I would like to see a few more teams come up. Growing up in the south-west, an hour away from Exeter, if Jonny Wilkinson or Danny Cipriani was coming to play at Exeter you would be there like a shot," he said.

"It is crying out for that kind of thing. I think it would be great. There is always trade-off. Do you cap it? Do you stop the opportunity of a club living the dream and getting into the Premiership? I am in favour of getting Exeter up and Worcester back and getting more teams in the Premiership but I don't want to get rid of relegation."

Vickery would also like to see more 'meaningful' rugby on the calendar, a veiled swipe at the current Anglo-Welsh Cup format which has drawn little praise from fans and players alike.

"Without wanting to cause too much controversy, there are quite a lot of games throughout the season which don't actually mean anything," he said. "I am sure there is a way of incorporating some meaningful rugby into the season."

© Scrum.com

Live Sports

Communication error please reload the page.

ABOUT COOKIES

To help make this website better, to improve and personalize your experience and for advertising purposes, are you happy to accept cookies and other technologies.

More Info Here Cookie Choices